Jonas and Joe meet.

[notinutopia]

Although Jonas hadn't learned the manner, he knew it wasn't polite to stare at people who had things wrong with them. In the Community, people with disabilities weren't kept, so it was a shock when he left his room at the Homestead and saw a man with one leg there. The man looked young and comfortable, like he was at home. Jonas couldn't help but

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[remnantofjoseph]

"What're you looking at," he mutters, less affection in him for a young man than someone like Coraline. The kid's familiar, though--lives here, Joe remembers.

[notinutopia]

The man's words snapped him back into focus and he blushed, embarrassed by his staring.

"Nothing. I'm- nothing." He didn't know what to say after that and just stood, moving his eyes off the man's leg. After a moment, he couldn't help himself. He stepped forward and approached the man apprehensively.

"Are you ok? I mean, does that hurt?"

[remnantofjoseph]

"Probably will later," he admits, digging through his pockets, looking for something to do with his hands. Smoking seems good enough. "You want one?"

[notinutopia]

Jonas didn't really understand what the man went, but decided, out of nervousness, not to ask for clarification.

"Are those cigarettes of pot?" He remembered when he confused Neil's pot for cigarettes and it was all very confusing.

[notinutopia]

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant it..." He stopped. Better just to not say anything else about the leg at all. Jonas looked back up, embarrassed. "I really am sorry, I'm just unfamiliar with a lot of things. I come from a very strange place," Jonas admitted.

[remnantofjoseph]

"Kid," he says levelly, "it's fine. Not exactly used to it either." Doesn't mind the kid--isn't sure what he minds. Just a strange morning. He puts out his cigarette on the plate and relights the one he took from Jonas. Bit of a waste, but there's too much to think about, and not enough to distract him from thinking.

[notinutopia]

"How long ago did it happen?" He asked, hoping his question wouldn't seem like he was intruding. If he wasn't used to it, it must have been a recent occurrence. "If we'll be living in the same house, I want to be careful. Don't want to hurt you." He added quietly.

[remnantofjoseph]

Joe laughs, blowing ash from the tip of his cigarette. "What makes you think you will?" He thinks back, that split of time, harder to measure. "Been about a year. Doubt you could do more damage than that," he says, knocking on the wooden leg with his knuckles.